Staying Invested
Driving Long-Term Participation for Newer Investors in Retail Markets
More people living on low and moderate incomes are participating in capital markets than ever before. This shift is changing who invests and how wealth is built.
Synthesizing data from across The Investor Diaries three research studies, a new report from Commonwealth and The BlackRock Foundation explores what supports long-term participation in the market for investors living on low and moderate incomes.
While access to retail markets is becoming more accessible, long-term participation is not guaranteed. The biggest barrier to building wealth via retail markets is no longer getting started, it is staying invested over time. Keeping this demographic of investors in the markets depends on financial stability, clear guidance, and trusted sources of information.
Understanding what supports continuity in investing can help:
Financial institutions design better products, employers strengthen financial benefits, and policymakers support long-term financial security.
This report is the culminating component of the The Investor Diaries initiative and how retail investing among Americans living on low to moderate incomes has surged since 2020, combining and humanizing the data from our October 2025 National Survey, Investor Transaction Analysis Brief, and lived-experience Voice Diaries.
A National Research Initiative Provides Insights into New Investors
The Investor Diaries is designed to understand the millions of new investors who entered retail market investing since 2020, particularly those living on low to moderate incomes (LMI).
This research was possible by the generous support of The BlackRock Foundation.
